Board of Health honors Anne Rogers

Board of Health chairman Henry Slocum presented Mrs. Rogers with a plaque and a certificate representing a donation made in her honor to the Commerce Public Library — her other public service passion.
Her successor on the board, Joyce Bradshaw, recalled joining the Health Department in 1973 and encountering Rogers.

“She was so supportive of all the nurses,” Bradshaw remembered. She also reminded the group that Mrs. Rogers had ceaselessly advocated for a Commerce health clinic.

Bradshaw pointed out that her late husband, Dr. A.A. “Johnny” Rogers Jr., donated the land for the first facility, a single-wide mobile home on what is now Bill Anderson Boulevard. Later, the facility expanded into a doublewide mobile home, still later moved to the South Elm Street house now utilized by the Criminal Investigative Division of the Commerce Police Department, and finally relocated to its current facility in the former shopping center (adjacent to Lanier Technical College) on South Elm Street that was purchased by Jackson County.

“Dr. Johnny was so supportive too,” Bradshaw continued, recalling how he frequently provided free medications to children seen at the health clinic whose parents could not afford it.

“Mrs. Anne was always a very strong advocate of public health, particularly teen pregnancy (prevention efforts),” observed Northeast Georgia Health District director Dr. Claude Burnett.

Among the attendees were Elsa Rogers, Mrs. Rogers’ daughter-in-law, and Dr. Martha Rogers, Mrs. Rogers’ daughter, who spoke on her parents’ effect on her decision to enter public health.

“A lot of that was from hearing about it and how important it was to my family,” she said. While she is a third-generation doctor, she pointed out that her daughter is a medical student at Emory.

“Many people just don’t realize the activity that goes on with the Board of Health,” commented Hunter Bicknell, who as chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners is a member of the Board of Health. “We are extremely appreciative of your service.”

“I appreciate all of your support for the Health Department too,” Rogers countered.

“It’s a great day,” Bicknell said. “It is wonderful to have you and your family here who have been so supportive of public health.”

Board member Brad Morris offered the opinion that the Health Department provides “more bang for the buck” in health care in terms of “keeping things from happening” and responding when they do happen. He praised Mrs. Rogers for the “humanity, friendship and worth” she brought to public health.

“Every time I see you and have seen you, you make me feel better,” he concluded.

Commerce councilman Archie Chaney, who for years represented Commerce on the board as the largest city in the county , said he is “part of the family too. We go way back.”

Chaney commented, “It is good that the people of Commerce can give you your flowers while you can still smell them.”

Slocum also presented Chaney with a plaque and a gift in appreciation for his service. Chaney is succeeded on the board by Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner.